Wine pairings, in plain English

Every other pairing guide tells you “Pinot Noir.” We tell you which bottle, what it costs, and where to find it.

• What wine goes with turkey?

  Pinot Noir is the safest bottle on a Thanksgiving table — light enough for white meat, fruity enough for cranberry sauce, and nobody at the table will complain.

• What wine goes with ham?

  An off-dry Riesling is the best match for ham — the touch of sweetness lines up with the glaze, and the acidity cuts the salt.

• What wine goes with prime rib?

  Cabernet Sauvignon is the classic prime rib pairing — the fat in the beef softens the wine’s grip, and each makes the other taste better.

• What wine goes with salmon?

  Pinot Noir is the one red that works with salmon, and a dry rosé is the safest all-round pick — salmon is rich enough to take a light red without losing its flavour.

• What wine goes with steak?

  Cabernet Sauvignon is the classic steak wine, and Malbec is the cheaper pick that does the same job — both have the tannin that fatty beef needs.

• What wine goes with pizza?

  Chianti is the classic pizza wine — its acidity matches the tomato sauce, which is the thing most wines trip over.